Pediatric hematology and oncology
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Pediatr Hematol Oncol · Dec 2005
Disseminated intravascular coagulation in pediatric patients: clinical and laboratory features and prognostic factors influencing the survival.
Although disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) has been a well-known disorder for many years, there is lack of sufficient number of clinical trials about incidence, frequency of underlying disorders, and prognosis of DIC in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency, etiologic factors, and clinical and laboratory findings of DIC and to determine the prognostic factors influencing the mortality in hospitalized pediatric patients. Medical records of 5535 children who were hospitalized were investigated. ⋯ In multivariete logistic regression analysis, only ARDS and cardiovascular dysfunction had predictive and prognostic value on mortality. None of the diagnostic laboratory tests had predictive or prognostic value and the degree of abnormality of these tests did not show any correlation with mortality. In conclusion, DIC is not a rare disorder in hospitalized children, especially in patients with sepsis, and MODS, ARDS, and respiratory and cardiovascular system dysfunctions are poor prognostic factors.
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Pediatr Hematol Oncol · Dec 2005
Case ReportsSoft tissue density variations in thalassemia major: a possible pitfall in lumbar bone mineral density measurements by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.
Osteoporosis is common in patients with thalassemia major. A 16-year-old patient with thalassemia major was referred for evaluation of osteoporosis. The results of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in a patient with thalassemia major are presented. ⋯ The DXA scan of the spine in lateral projection showed diffusely increased density in front part of the spine. The BMD of the L(3) vertebra was 0.3669 g/cm(2) (0.30 SD as compared with young adults). It is important to interpret the images visually in order to obtain true values of BMD, and preclude invalid BMD measurements.